We’ve always been driven by a fascination with photography as a tool for communication — for telling stories, building bridges, and creating dialogue.
Through our own work with portraiture, photojournalism, and personal projects, we’ve found meaning and motivation in continually developing and challenging ourselves in the pursuit of making personal, powerful images.
That fire and passion is the starting point for Theilgaard Academy.
We teach because we love seeing sparks jump from person to person — and because we want to help others ignite their own fire, find their strength, and build their motivation.
We insist on development — and on the courage to be personal and distinctive as photographers.
But we also know that a creative, artistic development processe has a high risk of turning into a frustrating experience without the right support and the right tools.
Our approach to teaching photography is rooted in a pragmatic philosophy: we value dialogue and sparring around an artistic statement just as highly as the very practical challenges that can stand in the way of ever creating the images you dream of.
It’s a process that can’t be rushed. It can be long, winding, and unpredictable. We’re here to help you all the way — with a sharp focus on the processes and considerations that truly matter, so you don’t lose your footing along the way. And when you do, we’re here to help you back up — and help you move forward.
We teach photography because we feel that fire burning inside when we see a truly great image.
That’s the fire we want to share with you.
Theilgaard Academy is led and run by photographer Helga Theilgaard and photographer and retoucher Michael Elmkjær Madsen.
I’m a visual artist and photographer, and over the past 20 years I’ve created a number of significant nationwide exhibitions and book publications — most recently the exhibitions I’m Here Now and The Rootless – We Who Remain.
I also work with communicating and teaching art and photography through workshops and talks, and I’ve helped hundreds of professional, independent and emerging photographers define their photographic language and make their images truly stand out.
I trained under Rigmor Mydtskov, Photographer to Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark, as well as at Fatamorgana – The Danish School of Art Photography, and the European Film College.
If you have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me at
or by phone on +45 26 84 40 43.
I’m a photographer and image retoucher, and an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop. I trained as a photojournalist and have worked as a photographer for more than 20 years for magazines, publishers and companies.
Alongside this, I have specialised in post-production and portrait retouching, as well as finishing fine art prints for museums and exhibitions. I also work on my own artistic projects.
Over the years, I’ve taught at institutions including Fatamorgana – The Danish School of Art Photography, and the Photography Programme under KTS/Next.
If you have any questions, you’re welcome to contact me at michael@theilgaardacademy.com or by phone on +45 31 79 94 79.
